Birmingham, Alabama. Opinions? (Alabaster, Arab, Black: home, public schools, college)

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

Blacks have taken over everything as in NC? Whats that supposed to mean?

Funny, I haven't noticed that either. Good lord, it's 2008, not 1958.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Ollie's is long gone...Jack's is still going strong and can be found around the state. Hamburgers still taste the same, but bring some antacid!!

Ollie's is a sad, sad story. A story of total stupidity in business.

Here those guys had a primo location, a great product, and an incredibly loyal following.

So what did they do? They picked up the entire shebang and moved it out to Pelham off Highway 31. Not only that, but they selected a place that was a good 300 yards off the highway.

Not only did they lose their loyal clientele, but they put their new location in a place where nobody could find them. What were these people thinking?

I bet at the family reunions, there's still some finger pointing going on over that boneheaded move.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by Sparco

lol, ok.... my guess the price is long gone too - (15cents).

Oh yeah! I think maybe right at $1 now? They make up for it with drink prices. A medium coke is about $1.50, with tax...you can about buy a six-pack for that!
Sparco, you gotta come back & visit BEFORE they plant you in your spot in Elmwood!

[Scraper Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by drfranklin

Now, after typing this I realized I very much miss a Thai restaurant in Five Points - "Surin West" - outstanding food there. My wife and I bought a house in "Southside" during my medical school years (sold it for a tidy profit without even putting it on the market) - 2 minute drive to UAB (I guess I could've "biked to work") and less than 5 minutes to quality dining - can't beat that - my commute now is 45 minutes .

I ate at that Thai restaurant. I must say, that place had some of the most delicious food I have ever tasted.

[Milspec]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

I think that's a snapshot from about 3 years ago. I drove downtown this weekend, and was amazed at the transformation going on. My guess is that, in about 5-10 years, downtown is going to be a great area.

I used to drive from Selma to B'ham on the weekends just to stay over night at the YMCA. I guess those days are long gone. My heart is still in AL, even if I had to move for my job. I hope to return and live in Hueytown area. AL is still a friendly state and I wish only the best for it. Every time I cross the line from GA into AL, I stop at the welcome center just to read Wallaces' words on the granite. Gone, but not forgotten.

[Milspec]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Funny, I haven't noticed that either. Good lord, it's 2008, not 1958.

I simply meant that what we call reverse discrimination is at it's best here in NC. My county is 85% black and 2% indian and the rest some of all. I mean that blacks run the city, county and make every decision that effects our life, locally, while paying only 13 % of the county taxes and commit 82 % of crimes.
No big deal.

[fishmonger]

So you're more of a fan of "one dollar-one vote" I guess?

[Sparco]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Oh yeah! I think maybe right at $1 now? They make up for it with drink prices. A medium coke is about $1.50, with tax...you can about buy a six-pack for that!
Sparco, you gotta come back & visit BEFORE they plant you in your spot in Elmwood!

lol, oh I certainly want to, Southlander.... Im surprised cemeteries dont charge us to get in those too, lol, they say in the olden days they used to, what a world we are living in, costs go up anymore, they may gladly lay me on down in Elmwood near my dear gran, theres very few penny candy spots anymore either....best to you and thanks for t he hamburger info, Southlander... I remember when we went there I dont think they even had a drive thru, lol... wow, to be back in those days again, huh?....Cheers!

"Hope Neil Young will remember, Southern man dont need him around anyhow" (....lol, I always loved that part of the song, lol)

[janathon]

I love it here. We live in a house we never could have afforded to live in in Chicago and the commute to our jobs is wonderful. No place is perfect, but we have even found some great places to go out. This is a great place to raise a family and close to vacation options, etc. I do, however, miss the food from "home" tremendously. Tortugas in Hoover has great pizza though and the owner was trained at Edwardo's in Chicago. He also is a huge Chicago Bears fan and has game get-togethers in the fall (invitation only), but he is a nice guy and easy to get to know. We haven't had real good luck with the oriental food as it is so sweet here, every dish is sweet. We like Sarin, though. Any good restaurant recommendations we would be interested in. Where in Chicago are you from??

[lovesroses]

I was born and raised in Birmingham; Cahaba Heights, to be exact. What once was considered a hick town has gone quite cosmopolitan in my opinion, with fine dining and shopping. I visited my mom recently in the Meadow Brook area, and just love how clean and well landscaped the area is. I used to be embarrassed to say where I came from. When people hear Alabama, they automatically think of racism and they underestimate your IQ by a few points if they hear a southern drawl... But Birmingham is the South's best kept secret now!